Fergie aide in chains

Former royal aide Jane Andrews murdered her lover because she is "attention-seeking and manipulative" and not because she was sexually abused by her brother, the High Court heard today.

The Duchess of York's former dresser's claims of sexual abuse as a child were irrelevant to her motive for killing American Thomas Cressman, the court was told.

Her counsel, Vera Baird QC, had told the court it was "abundantly clear" abuse had taken place and produced statements from the parents.

But Crown prosecutor Bruce Holder QC, said Andrews's brother Mark, a theatre producer from Manchester, has denied the allegation "and always has done".

"The only evidence we ever had of it arises from her own account. She is attention-seeking and manipulative in her relationships. The same traits may well have motivated these allegations," he added.

"It may be true but it doesn't have any bearing on her killing the deceased."

Lord Justice Kennedy agreed with Mr Holder, saying: "What business is it of this court to decide that issue? We have to decide whether this conviction was safe.

"It is quite unnecessary and wholly inappropriate without having any evidence from the alleged perpetrator to make a decision on such a sensitive issue."

Andrews, 36, was jailed for life in May 2001 for stabbing American Mr Cressman with a knife and battering him with a cricket bat in their home in Fulham. She was said to have

attacked him in revenge for his threat to end their two-year relationship.

At the Old Bailey she told the jury he had been killed accidentally as she struck out in selfdefence when he tried to anally rape her.

Her evidence caused great anguish to his parents Harry and Barbara Cressman, who were in court today for the start of the appeal, with stepmother Christa.

They saw Andrews enter the dock dressed in a navy-blue jacket, pale blue blouse and carrying a fawn raincoat.

Looking pale, with her straggly hair swept back, she smiled briefly at her own parents, David and June Andrews, who were sitting directly behind the Cressmans.

She answered "yes" when asked to confirm her name by the court clerk then took a seat at the furthest corner of the dock.

Her counsel said fresh evidence had emerged from a psychiatrist and a therapist who had been able to "unlock" the secrets of her past sexual abuse while she served her sentence in Bulwood Hall prison, Essex.

These experts agreed that she was suffering at the time of the killing from an abnormality of mind which substantially diminished her responsibility and which amounted to manslaughter and not murder. "Andrews had unreconciled problems arising from her early sexual abuse," said Miss Baird.

"The locked-up secrets of the extent of the childhood sexual abuse had started to be unlocked by the psychiatrist and therapist."

After Mr Cressman's violent death Andrews had left the victim in his own blood and driven away from London to Cornwall before she was arrested.

She had worked as a dresser for the Duchess of York for nine years before she was made redundant in 1997 when the Duchess had to make drastic cuts in her spending to pay her debts.

The Duchess used to jokingly call her "Lady Jane" because of her expensive clothing and pretentious attitude.

In the packed court today were members of the Justice For Women group who are supporting Andrews.

Her brother will not be giving evidence to the appeal and since his sister's allegations is said to have deteriorated into a near nervous breakdown.

The appeal is set down for three days and is being heard by Lord Justice Kennedy, Mr Justice Forbes and Mr Justice Aitkens.